Peace Ride: Restoration of Byrasandra Lake, Jayanagar

Story

With as many as 262 lakes, ponds and marshy wetlands, Bengaluru was once famously known as ‘City of Lakes’. The city’s waterbodies played a vital role in regulating temperatures, addressing water needs, ensuring high level of groundwater table and providing open spaces for recreational activities. However owing to anthropogenic activities and population pressures leading to unplanned urbanization in recent times, Bengaluru has lost most its lakes and other waterbodies discharge of industrial effluents, domestic sewage and unregulated dumping of solid wastes. A number of lakes have also fallen prey to unaccountable encroachment resulting in drastic shrinkage of waterbodies in the city. In order to create a more sustainable environment, NBF has envisioned the Kere Habba program to create awareness on lake / water conservation and local community participation in environment related activities.

Current Scenario:

1. About the Lake: Byrasandra Lake (Survey No.56 is adjacent to RBI Colony Jayanagar colony 3rd Block East Jayanagar Bangalore 11. Residents waged legal battle for 20 years and saved the lake. Rejuvenation of the lake was taken up by BDA and the lake has been revived.

2. Existing Flora and Fauna found in the Lake: There are plenty of fishes in the lake and there are increasing signs of migratory birds visiting the lake.

Mentioned below are the areas for support for active community participation and sustained efforts.

Neighborhood Requirements:

Areas of support

Activities

Estimated Cost

Water quality test and monitoring of the lake

1. Carry out 5 metal tests to check the quality of the water every quarter. ( 5000*4= 20000)

2. Conduct basic water test using samples from 4 different location of the lake every quarter. (2500*4*4= 40,000)

3. Develop maps identifying the lake boundary along with 30 Mts and 75 Mts buffer, identifying Rajakaluves and their buffer zones, distributing this information digitally and through maps.( 1,00,000)

4. support for a security guard with support for BBMP and Local Association(15000*12= 1,80,000)

3,40,000/-

Waste management and cleaning drive

1. Monitor the inflow of untreated Raw Sewage water and work with relevant authorities to prevent their inflow

2. Cleaning drive – Picking up non- bio degradable waste in the lake area and disposing it appropriately, make the lake clean and plastic free.

3. Conduct a work shop on importance of waste segregation and waste management.

4. Reduce garbage problem in locality by waste segregation at source and composting at homes.

5. Planting drive - Local and appropriate plants species will be planted which will enhance the bio-diversity of the lake

55,000/-

Little lake keepers club

1. Create awareness regarding the protection and preservation of the lakes.

2. Flora and Fauna Identification Workshop with a leading expert

3. Support the lake association to form “Little lake keepers club”

4. For children between the age of 7 to 12 years

5. Conduct activities such “know your lake”, “Identify birds and plants in the lake” through drawing, coloring competitions and quiz

50,000/-

Volunteering Support

1. Volunteers to help to conduct the above mentioned activities.

2. Bring community together and improve citizen participation in environment matters